Shortly before his brother-in-law King William II died in 1849, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia provided him with a secret loan of one million guilders. As security the king put up his art collection. After the latter’s death his heirs tried everything to retain control over the celebrated collection. They managed to persuade another uncle, Prince Frederik, to take over the tsar’s debt on condition that a public sale of the works would be held as soon as possible. Tsar Nicholas was one of the most successful buyers at the auction.